Ear protector



oct. 14, 1941. A. B. RM/Es 2,258,929

EAR `PROTECTOR Filed Jan. 29, 1940 INVENIOF? ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE EAR PROTECTOR Addie B. Graves, Reading, oalif.

Application January 29, 1940, Serial No. 316,264

8 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful irnprovements in ear protectors.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device that is particularly adapted to be used in beauty parlors and that may be applied to the external ears of the patrons to substantially protect'the same from the blast of heated air discharged by the drying hood.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character that may be easily applied to the ears and in a manner that will in no way interfere with the hair dressing operation.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character that includes an outer insulating shell and a removable inner liner, and whereby each used liner may be discarded and a new liner tted in the shell after each application of the same .to a patron, thus providing a highly elhcient and sanitary protector.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character wherein the crown of the liner is spaced from the crown of the cover orr shell to dene an air space therebetween, such air space substantially increasing the heat insulating qualities of the protector.

Other objects and advantages of my invention, will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specication, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a device embodying my invention associated with the head of a person,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of my device,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the outer shell comprising a part of my invention, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the inner liner comprising a part of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral Il! designates a shell formed of a suitably rigid heat insulating material. The shell includes a at substantially ellipsoidal back wall II and an integral depending peripheral skirt I2. I have found that the shell I0 may be easily and expeditiously formed of suitable asbestos bre sheet material. This substance lends itself readily to a forming operation and has highly desirable heat insulating characteristics; however, it is to lbe understood that I, in no manner, limit my invention to the use of this material but that any material possessing like charatceristics may be used.

The cupular liner I3 is adapted to be positioned within the shell member Ill and is formed with a at ellipsoidal rear wall I 4, such wall being slightly smaller than the wall II of the shell, and an outwardly flared side wall or skirt I5. The liner may be formed of any suitable sheet material. I find it convenient to use a heavy paper for the reason that a great many liners may be easily and inexpensively manufactured from this material; however, any material having the desired characteristics may be used. The liner is positioned within the shell in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 so that the bottom wall I4 and skirt I5 thereof will be spaced from the wall II and skirt I2 of the shell. The outer marginal edge I6 of the skirt portion of the liner is then bent back upon itself and in overlapping relation with the skirt I2 of the shell, as illustrated in Figure 2.

It may thus be seen that the peripheral edges of the liner and shell ,may be detachably connected by a crimpingoperation but that the crown portions of the same will be spaced from each other to dene an 'air space I'I therebetween.

After the hair is waved and set a suitable net I8 is placed upon the head to cover the hair and hold the same in place during the drying operation. The peripheral edge of the net may be provided withY an elastic band or, if desired, a suitable strap I9 may be used and the ends thereof tied, as at 20, to hold the net against displacement. The portions of the band or strap at the side of the head will extend over the shell Il] when the same is applied to the ear, as illustrated in Figure 1, to hold the shell in position and in protective relation with the ear. The shell is of suffi-cient size to comfortably receive the ear of the person and the oval or ellipsoidal formation of the shells will permit the same to be applied to either the right or left side of the head, thus avoiding the necessity of having especially constructed shells for each side of the head and greatly facilitating and expediting the application of the same to the head. The drying hood may then be fitted over the head and heated air is discharged therefrom to effect a rapid drying of the hair'.

The heated air issuing from the hood is frequently a source of extreme discomture to the person being subjected to the operation and it is an object of my invention to offer such person a practical and eincient protection for the external ear. The heat insulating quality of the outer shell l will materially aid in realizing this object; however, experience teaches that the practical utility of the heat insulating shell is materially reduced if portions of the same are in intimate contact with the ear or are disposed in such close proximity thereto as to permit the heated air from the drying hood to have access thereto. The outwardly flared skirt portion of the liner will hold the shell spaced from the ear and the air space between the liner and shell will greatly increase the heat insulating quality of the device as a unit.

The utility of the arrangement is materially increased by the elimination of any means for holding the same to the head. In the past bands have been used which extend over the head to suspend the protectors in the desired relation to the ears, however, the band frequently rumples the hair and destroys or materially disturbs the wave in the hair. Other arrangements have been used which embody a strap passing under the chin and wherein the protector is formed with a convex upper prole which ts overthe upper portion of the external ear to hold the protector in position. It has been found, however, that the heat insulating characteristics of a device constructed in this manner are materially reduced by the intimate contact of the protector with the upper edge of the external ear.

The liner I3 is detachably associated with the shell in a manner to permit the same to be easily removed and discarded after each use and a new one inserted within the shell. The edge of the liner may be manually crimped or pressed over the edge of the skirt I2 of the shell to hold the same securely in place and thus provide a clean and sanitary cover next to the ear.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. An ear protector, comprising a shell formed of a heat insulating material, of essentially permanent character, and a liner of essentially ephemeral or temporary character removably tted in and spaced from the inner surface of the shell.

2. An ear protector, comprising a shell of esf sentially permanent character formed of an asbestos material, and a liner of essentially ephemeral character removably positioned within the shell and having all portions thereof which contact the ear spaced from the shell to define a void therebetween.

3. An ear protector, comprising a rigid outer shell member formed of a heat insulating material of essentially permanent character, and a llexible liner of essentially ephemeral character positioned within the shell and with the crown portion thereof spaced from the shell to define an air chamber therebetween.

4. An ear protector, comprising a shell formed with an open side, and a liner removably positioned within said shell and with the marginal edge thereof extending through the open side of the shell and bent back in overlapping relation therewith, the relationship between the shell and liner being such that the liner only contacts the shell at its edge, all parts of the liner extending inwardly from the edge being spaced from the shell to define an air space therebetween.

5. An ear protector, comprising a rigid shell member of a heat insulating material of essentially permanent character, said shell being formed with an open side, and a liner of essentially ephemeral character disposed within 'the shell and with the marginal edge thereof extending through the open side of the shell and crimped over the edge thereof, the relationship between the shell and liner being such that the liner only contacts the shell at its edge, all parts of the liner extending into the shell from the edge being spaced from the shell to denne a void therebetween.

6. An ear protector including an outer shell member formed with a back portion and a circumferential marginal skirt having in combination, a removable liner positioned within the shell, the marginal edge of the liner extending outwardly of the shell and turned back in overlapping relation with the said skirt portion, and the relationship between the shell and liner being such that contact therebetween is confined to the edge of the skirt portion of the shell, all portions of the liner extending into the shell being spaced therefrom to denne an air pocket therebetween.

'7. An ear protector comprising substantially concentric shells formed with an open side for receiving the ear of a person, the relationship between the shells being such that contact therebetween is confined to the said open side edges, the crown portions thereof being spaced to define an air pocket therebetween whereby all portions of the ear contacting the inner shell will be protected by the said air pocket from heat applied to the outer shell.

8. An ear protector comprising substantially concentric readily separable shells formed with an open side for receiving the ear of a person, the relationship between the shells being such that contact therebetween is confined to the said open side edges, the crown portions thereof being spaced to define an air pocket therebetween whereby all portions of the ear contacting the inner shell will be protected by the said air pocket from heat applied to the outer shell, the inner shell being of essentially flexible, ephemeral character and the said outer shell being substantially rigid and formed of a heat insulating material of essentially permanent character.

ADDIE B. GRAVES. 

